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October 18, 2006
Mall Rats
Shakin' Dave
The New York Times reported recently that members of the Ohio Supreme Court routinely sit on cases involving their campaign contributors.
Shakin' Dave reported recently that The NY Times missed an interesting case study:
The case concerned the Mellett Mall in Canton, which Forest City trustee James Ratner bought in 1981 for $12.5 million. Stark County argued the mall's value should reflect the sale price, but a pair of real-estate appraisers testifying on behalf of Forest City estimated the mall was worth less than $10.5 million based on market conditions. The Supreme Court directed the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals to consider their testimony, and the board subsequently lowered the mall's value to $10.5 million. The high court affirmed the board's ruling in 1988, saving Forest City more than $25,000 in annual property taxes.
Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer has received $24,700 in campaign contributions from the Ratner family since being elected to the high court in 1987, the most of any justice.
NoLandGrab: Judges receive money for nothing and decisions are for free?
Posted by lumi at October 18, 2006 9:46 AM